Millions of Palestinians, Christian and Muslim, face religious persecution by Israel on a daily basis, a reality I’ve reported and campaigned against for many years, particularly since I started working in public affairs and communications for the International Centre of Justice for Palestinians.
This became clearer than ever when I visited the occupied Palestinian territory earlier this year and witnessed the lived reality of Palestinians living under apartheid. Words cannot convey the oppressive atmosphere that will forever be engraved in my mind.
Until this trip, I’ve never personally experienced a single anti-Christian comment, a privilege many Palestinians are deprived of. However, that reality would soon change, before I even stepped off the plane at Ben Gurion airport.
While on the flight, the British-Israeli man sat beside me struck up a conversation with me regarding my intentions whilst visiting Israel. Not wishing to needlessly antagonise him, I emphasised my interest in visiting Christian holy sites, which was also true, but secondary to my main business of bringing a delegation of MPs to meet with Palestinians in the Occupied West Bank.
In any case, I tried to placate him by discussing overlaps between the Torah and the Old Testament. His instinctive response was not one of shared spiritual outlook, but instead to mock the New Testament, calling it “a little add-on”. I politely smiled and left it at that. ….more
